Your First Period: What It's Really Like and How to Get Ready

A first period is often lighter than people expect: not a sudden gush, but a reddish-brown stain in your underwear that might not last very long. It can also be red and heavier from the start, and that can be normal too. Getting ready comes down to three things: a small kit, a plan for school and for night-time, and an adult you will tell.

What a first period is actually like

• Color. Red or brown. Brown is blood that left the body slowly and darkened in contact with the air, which is why it shows up most at the start and the end of a period.
• How much. A whole period adds up to about 20 to 90 mL of blood, roughly 1 to 5 tablespoons.
• The pattern. Often light at first, then heavier, then light again.
• How long. The first one might not last very long. Most teenagers bleed for 3 to 7 days.

A heavier first period is not automatically a problem. These are the signs of heavy bleeding to tell an adult about:

• needing a new pad every 1 to 2 hours
• a period that lasts more than 7 days
• clots bigger than about 2.5 cm
• bleeding through your pad onto your clothes or bedding
• missing things you would normally do because of your period
• often feeling tired or short of breath

Heavy bleeding from the very first period is worth mentioning even if everything else seems fine, because it can be the first sign of a bleeding condition that runs in families.

Pack a small kit

Put together a small pouch for your school bag, and keep a second set at home:

• a few pads: regular ones for the day and a longer one for the night
• a clean pair of underwear
• wipes or tissues

To use a pad, peel off the backing, stick it to the inside of your underwear, and fold the wings around the sides if it has them. Change it every 4 to 6 hours, sooner on heavy days. Wrap a used pad in its wrapper or in toilet paper and put it in the trash. Never flush it.

Period underwear is another option. For a full checklist, see First period kit: what to have at home and in your backpack.

If it starts at school or at night

At school. Go to the bathroom and check. If you have your kit, put on a pad. If you do not, fold toilet paper into a thick strip and lay it in your underwear for now, then ask for a pad: the school nurse, the office, a teacher you trust or a friend can help. If there is a mark on your clothes, tie a sweatshirt around your waist, and you can ask to call home. Your first period at school has more ideas.

At night. You might wake up to a spot on your underwear or pajamas. Change into clean underwear with a pad, rinse the stain in cold water, and go back to sleep if you can. Wake an adult if you want help, or tell them in the morning.

Who to tell, and how

Tell an adult you trust: a parent, or if that feels hard, an aunt, a grandmother, the school nurse or a teacher. They can get you supplies and help with whatever comes next.

Some ways to make saying it easier:

• Text it if saying it face to face feels like too much.
• Agree on a code word ahead of time.
• Keep it short: "I think I got my period. Can you help me get some pads?"

Talking before it happens helps too. In one study, girls who had talked with their mothers beforehand, including about how they felt, were more likely to feel prepared when their period came. If you are a parent reading this, that conversation is worth starting early. For words to borrow, see How to tell your mom you got your period.

Can you tell when it's coming?

A few signs show it is getting closer:

• Breasts. A first period typically comes about 2 years after breasts start to grow. That is an average and it varies a lot, so it is not a countdown.
• Discharge. Clear or white discharge in your underwear may start some months before a first period, and it is normal. If it changes color or smell, itches or feels sore, or it hurts to pee, tell an adult you trust.

Nobody can tell you the date it will come. There is no single right age either: most people get their first period between 11 and 14, but anywhere from 9 to 15 or later happens. Two lines matter. If a period comes before 9, or there is no period by 15 (or by 13 with no other signs of puberty yet), tell a parent or another adult you trust so a doctor can check.

After your first period

Write down the date it started. Your next period might not come exactly a month later: in the first years, cycles are uneven and run roughly 20 to 45 days apart. If the gaps keep running longer than 45 days, or 3 months go by with no period, tell an adult so a doctor can take a look. The Soso app can keep those dates for you.